GlobalSpa
05-Dec-2025
With vast woodlands, abundant trails, and a national love for the outdoors, Germany has become Europe’s most inviting forest-bathing destination.
Germany is one of Europe’s most forested countries, with over 30% of its land covered in woodland. For Germans, the forest — der Wald — is sacred. With ancient woodlands, moss-lined trails, quiet lakesides, and a national culture deeply rooted in outdoor living, Germany has become one of the world’s most inspiring destinations for forest bathing and mindful nature immersion.
What is Forest Bathing?
Forest bathing is a Japanese practice which involves strolling mindfully and quietly through natural environments, engaging all the senses to fully immerse in the forest atmosphere. Although the practice originated as a preventive healthcare measure, its benefits quickly came to light, and it has since been adopted across the world due to its cohesion with existing cultural traditions.
Benefits of Forest Bathing
The healing effects of forest bathing are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence. Spending just 20 minutes in a forest environment produces measurable physiological changes. A recent study conducted in Vienna Woods demonstrated that forest exposure reduced salivary cortisol, the primary stress hormone, by almost half. Studies also report reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms and improved mood and attention after guided forest therapy sessions. Multiple systematic reviews and controlled trials have shown that slow, mindful time in forests lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and markers of sympathetic arousal. Other research links forest exposure to short-term increases in certain immune cells.
(DZT/Christoph Jorda)
Germany’s Intimacy with Forest Bathing
Germany has a long tradition of finding solace in forests. At the heart of Germany’s forest tradition lies Waldeinsamkeit—an archaic German term that translates literally as “solitude of the forest”. It embodies the enlightened, sublime feeling experienced when alone in the woods, representing a quintessentially German philosophical approach to nature that transcends simple hiking or recreation. Waldeinsamkeit is about finding tranquillity and developing a profound connection with nature while experiencing deep appreciation for its beauty, rather than merely hiking through a verdant trail.
With the advent of forest bathing and its mingling with waldeinsamkeit, certified forest health coaches and forest therapy practitioners in Germany have begun guiding structured experiences that combine mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and sensory training in natural environments. Three-hour forest bathing sessions typically begin with attuning you to the surrounding forest through breathing and sensory exercises, then progressing to slow-paced walking while observing details about the forest with heightened awareness.
Prime Spots for Forest Bathing in Germany
Black Forest
The Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg is Germany’s most iconic forest destination. This region features dense evergreen trees, ancient woodlands, meandering rivers, including the Titisee and Schluchsee lakes, and charming villages that enhance the immersive experience. The Black Forest’s dense canopy creates an atmosphere of perpetual twilight, even during daylight hours, producing a magical and serene ambience perfect for mindful forest walking. The region pioneered Europe’s first purpose-built Waldbaden circuits around Bad Wildbad, featuring scientifically designed stopping points where dense spruce and fir stands create optimal therapeutic environments through the concentrated release of phytoncides.
(Hainich National Park, DZT/Jens Wegener)
Hainich National Park
Hainich National Park in Thuringia stands as Germany’s largest contiguous deciduous forest. It embodies a rare example of a forest permitted to return to its natural state. This approach creates ideal conditions for forest bathing, as fallen trees remain undisturbed, creating moss-covered giants that support thousands of species and generate nutrient-rich soil for further growth. Visitors can explore Hainich through well-signposted circular hiking trails at forest-bathing pace, visit the 80-foot-high canopy walk offering perspective meditation opportunities, or explore the Thiemsburg National Park Centre with its root cave providing a visceral connection to forest ecology.
Saxon Switzerland National Park
Located in eastern Germany near the Czech border, Saxon Switzerland offers a unique rock national park with over 700 climbing peaks and dramatic sandstone formations nestled among forests. Named “Switzerland” by Swiss artists who found the landscape reminiscent of their homeland, this region combines forest bathing with stunning geological features and the Elbe River scenery. The hilly landscape and rock formations create varied forest types and microclimates ideal for diverse sensory experiences.
(Lusen National Park Center, Bavarian Forest, GNTB/Francesco Carovillano)
Bavarian Forest
The Bavarian Forest, extending into the Fichtelgebirge Nature Park, offers long, uninterrupted stretches of dedicated cycling trails alongside forest paths. Popular attractions include the Baumwipfelpfad—an 82-foot-high treetop walk that provides canopy-level forest immersion. The region features bubbling streams, glacial lakes, and dense forests, with forest health coaches offering guided three-hour forest bathing sessions combining meditation, relaxation exercises, and sensory training.
Ultimately, what makes Germany such a remarkable place for forest bathing is how naturally Germany’s extensive forests, thoughtful infrastructure, and deeply rooted outdoor culture come together to celebrate the tranquillity accorded by nature. The hush, the filtered light, and the sense of continuity all create a quiet communion between you and the living world. In those suspended moments of stillness, Germany shows that the true power of forest bathing lies not in escape, but in a renewed fidelity to the natural world.
Cover Image Credit: Black Forest, DZT/Günter Standl
